News director for Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Turkey at @ap, formerly @lorienttoday, @DailyStarLeb, @latimes. Contact asewell@ https://xitter.cf/t.co/MJlihKiBDf

Lebanon
Joined September 2008
Children killed in Lebanon as Israeli strikes hit homes far from front lines of war with Hezbollah We profiled three of the 168 children killed in Lebanon to date and their families. With heartbreaking video by @malakharb: apnews.com/article/lebanon-c…
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A developmentally disabled man was killed by Israeli forces during a raid on a village in Syria’s Daraa province. The man, Muath Salama al-Baeer, was buried in the village of Jamla later Thursday as anger rose over Israeli incursions @AlsayedGhaith apnews.com/article/syria-isr…
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The once-thriving Lebanese Jewish community has been largely forgotten in the decades since most of them left the country. But the latest Israel-Hezbollah war — which pushed Lebanon and Israel into direct negotiations — has brought them under the spotlight again Via @bmroue apnews.com/article/lebanon-j… – at Lebanon
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Abby Sewell retweeted
To be clear: Some facts are neither in dispute nor unclear. Our photographer was clearly marked as Press. She was clearly beaten. These are not partisan or risible statements, but indisputable. We urge a thorough investigation and accountability.
The Prime Minister’s Office: The facts surrounding the confrontation near Abu Falah, during which Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine was allegedly assaulted, remain unclear and are under investigation. Israel unequivocally condemns violence against anyone—Jews, Arabs, Christians or journalists. Those responsible will be held accountable. But serious questions remain. Reports indicate some 200 Arabs and far-left activists confronted approximately 40 Israeli youths. Footage shows masked individuals on both sides hurling objects, amid reports of fireworks fired at Jewish youths. Other footage appears to show Levine knocked down and immediately helped to her feet by the same unidentified individual. The investigation must establish the facts, including who initiated the violence. We will not allow disputed incidents to be exploited to demonize the hundreds of thousands of law-abiding Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria. The facts must determine the conclusions. Not the headlines.
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Masked Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian villagers on Friday, setting olive groves on fire and slinging rocks. Caught in the attack was Post photographer Heidi Levine. “They just kept kicking me and kicking me, like probably 50 times,” Levine said. wapo.st/4yt6dHY
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Iraq’s parliament voted to fill vacant Cabinet posts to complete the country’s government - including a deputy prime minister who is under U.S. sanctions, Laith al-Khazali, brother of Qais al-Khazali, leader of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia @qabdulzahra apnews.com/article/iraq-depu…
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A Hezbollah official has acknowledged that a truck full of explosives seized by Lebanese authorities last week belonged to the militant group and said the explosives were intended for use against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, not for assassinations apnews.com/article/lebanon-h…
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A small unarmed U.N. observer force known as UNTSO will remain in southern Lebanon after UNIFIL’s departure. “But the question is, are they able to operate without the kind of protecting environment that has to be provided by a U.N. military presence?” Lacroix said. – at Lebanon
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Hezbollah announces plans to compensate people displaced in Lebanon during its latest war with Israel, potentially bolstering support among its base while signaling defiance to the Lebanese government and the United States Via @bmroue apnews.com/article/lebanon-i…
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Abby Sewell retweeted
NEW: Turkey is shopping around the idea of Feridun Sinirlioglu, a 70-year-old former FM, joining the list of candidates vying to lead the United Nations as the months-long race for secretary-general continues with no clear victor. w/ @StLiechtenstein apnews.com/article/race-secr…
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Islamic Jihad deputy Secretary General Mohammed al-Hindi confirmed the formation of the electoral alliance in a rare interview with @AP
Hamas, Islamic Jihad and powerful ex-Fatah official Mohammed Dahlan have formed an unlikely electoral alliance to challenge Fatah's dominance of the PA - if Palestinian legislative elections go forward as scheduled in November, which is a big if: apnews.com/article/palestini…
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Hamas, Islamic Jihad and powerful ex-Fatah official Mohammed Dahlan have formed an unlikely electoral alliance to challenge Fatah's dominance of the PA - if Palestinian legislative elections go forward as scheduled in November, which is a big if: apnews.com/article/palestini…
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